King Seiko 45-7001 A Pleasant Surprise
I'm no Mike Stockton when it comes to vintage Japanese watches. My knowledge ends where his starts. There is no shame in admitting that, either. He knows his stuff when it comes to Seiko, Citizen, and the rest. I do, however, love to read about them, search the usual auction sites, compare models, and put together an imaginary vintage Seiko wish list. Also, I have Mike as a friend, and from time to time, that pays off. One example is this watch on my wrist, a vintage King Seiko reference 45-7001. It’s my latest acquisition and addition to my very modest Seiko collection.Now, it is worth mentioning that I don't own any modern Seiko watches. My recent trip to Tokyo and especially to the ...
WatchTime New York Returns for its Eighth Year
Not all watch shows are meant for consumers. Often, the shows attended by big-name brands have a strong focus on the press, retailers, and distributors. Collectors and enthusiasts are left watching from the outside and having to make do with reading the latest news online. Thankfully, there are some shows with a focus on the “real people,” as it were. One such show is held by our good friends at WatchTime in New York.WatchTime New York, one of North America’s paramount watch collector shows, is making its grand return this October. This is the eighth iteration of the show, with the gears turning faster and the hands pointing towards an even more sensational gathering of the...
The Best Watches Under $3,000: Mike's Picks
Now it’s my turn to profess the best watches in existence under $3,000. The bulk of my colleagues have already opined on the subject, and they’ve certainly picked some fantastic timepieces. That said, there are still loads of nice opportunities to add a watch for this rather princely sum. I’ve chosen a wide variety and have also tried to cover the major genres too. Let’s see what you think.Just last week, I received an unexpected text message from a friend here in London. She has a colleague who is in her early 60s, and that colleague wanted to purchase a watch for her husband’s birthday. They’re not watch people, so the budget was 500C600. As always, I a...
New: Seiko Prospex Marinemaster SLA077 And SLA079
Can Seiko’s famous Marinemaster moniker apply to two very different watches in the Prospex line? If the introduction of the new, smaller Marinemaster last year wasn’t enough to accept, the brand just hit us with another curveball. Seiko just added two new Marinemasters to the catalog, and they aren’t in line with last year’s 62MAS-inspired Marinemaster watches. The new Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation SLA077 and SLA079 have “Marinemaster” on the dial as well. Is this a confusing or logical step into the future? Let’s break it down and see if we can find out.For many watch enthusiasts, the Marinemaster name is synonymous with ...
New: The HYT T1 Millesime Series
The French word millesime means “vintage” and is most often linked to great wines and champagnes. The new HYT T1 Millesime series offers a vintage-inspired dial matching the contemporary look of HYT's most understated creation. And just like a millesime wine, the new trio of watches refers to a limited period. The HYT T1 Millesime series in brown, purple, and green will only be available from September 2024 to April 2025.By introducing the four watches in the T1 Series earlier this year, HYT created a buzz. Sure, maybe it wasn’t as big a buzz as in 2012 when the brand burst onto the scene with the H1, the first wristwatch that used fluids to indicate time. Still, the less-i...
New: Grand Seiko SLGA025 And SBGH347
Don’t you love how the designers at Grand Seiko keep using Japanese natural phenomena and settings as inspiration? Of course, I’m not a fan of all Grand Seiko watches, but I enjoy reading through the press releases and looking up the places and things from which the dial colors and textures are derived. It’s like taking a trip through Japan. The new Grand Seiko Evolution 9 SLGA025 and the Hi-Beat SBGH347 both have dials inspired by Japanese waters. In the case of the SLGA025, it’s the turquoise Atera River in Nagano Prefecture. As for the SBGH347, it’s the frozen Nanataki Falls in Iwate Prefecture.Although both watches have dials inspired by Japanese waters, the...
Watches in Monaco
In a few days I am off to the Cote d’Azure for some well earned holidays with my girlfriend. We are, ofcourse, planning to visit Monaco and in order to answer to my watchaddiction, I tried to google on watchstores in Monaco in the hope to see some really high-end watches in the flesh.However, most hits shows this:If anyone has tips for nice shops in Monaco/Cannes/St Tropez which are really worth the visit, let me know via e-mail or through the ‘comments’ button below....
URWERK: Black Platinum 103 Hexagon
A few months ago, I visited Singapore and noticed this incredible piece of art in the display of The Hour Glass shop in the Millenia Walk mall. This watch, an URWERK 103, was an incredible eye-catcher.Last week I received a presentation of URWERK’s latest creation, the UR103 Hexagon. It also included a technical description of this time piece.URWERK, founded in 1997 by Felix Baumgartner (watchmaker) and Martin Frei (artist), celebrates each new collection by 10 black watches. This year, URWERK introduces the new black platinum 103 Hexagon. The birth of URWERK?????s ???Black???a limited editions goes back to 1999 with the presentation of a special version of URWERK?????s very fir...
Omega Speedmaster Plaisted Polar Expedition 1968
Omega Speedmaster Plaisted Polar Expedition 1968!A sextant and a Speedmaster was all they had to calculate their exact position. Four brave men who had travelled for 44 days to conquer 1320 kilometres across the Polar cap reached their destination: the exact geographic North Pole at 90 degrees latitude North.The mission was led by American explorer Ralph S. Plaisted. The other men in his team were Gerald Pitzl (navigator), Walter Pederson (the mechanical engineer) and Jean-Luc Bombardier (scout and technician). All four men were wearing an Omega Speedmaster Professional reference 145.012. The same reference that was used during the Apollo 11 mission approximately a year later.During this mis...
Buzz Aldrin's Omega Speedmaster Professional
Buzz Aldrin’s Speedmaster!Once in a while we have guest contributors for the Speedy Tuesday topic. Today’s it is Boris of the Watches and Art blog and contributor to WatchTime.net. Just recently, he also contributed to Speedy Tuesday with his wonderful Omega Speedmaster ref. 2998-61. Today, Boris contributes with a story on his Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.012, supposedly the same reference that Buzz Aldrin had in space. Although it has never been confirmed and we’ve seen other references for Adrin’s watch as well.Note – In the meanwhile we know that Aldrin and Armstrong wore 105.012 references and Collins wore a 145.012 during the Apollo 11 mission. This ...
SevenFriday V-Series A New Cool For Under 1000 Euro
SevenFriday introduces their new collection of timepieces, the V-Series. Clearly inspired by engines and industrial design, the SevenFriday V-Series will shake up the entry market of mechanical timepieces once again. We had our worries, that the new collection would become ‘too expensive’ and therefore competing in a totally different league of watch manufacturers, but the price of the V-Series is more than comforting.Both V-Series watches, the V1/01 and V2/01, are priced at just below $1000 Euro (~ CHF1055 Swiss Francs). For this, you will get a unique designed watch by SevenFriday, powered by a mechanical movement made in Japan (Miyota 82S7). There is more than price and moveme...
Notable Sale: Heuer Autavia 2446C SN "panda"
Today is apparently vintage Heuer Autavia day on Fratello Watches, as we’re giving you a double-dose (see our #TBT article on the Heuer Autavia 2446 “Jochen Rindt”)!In case you missed it, and you wouldn't be alone due to the lightning fast sale, hen's teeth were available on eBay earlier this week.? A so-called Heuer Autavia 2446C SN was listed at $20,000 and was apparently purchased by a prominent dealer with a best offer. Most pundits actually consider this an incredible bargain and potential values have been listed as high as $50,000! For those not familiar with Heuer coding, this is actually a panda dial on a compressor-case Autavia equipped with a Valjoux 72.The common...
#TBT Heuer Autavia 2446 "Jochen Rindt"
Once the bug bit me, the only remedy was to track down “the watch”. I absolutely had to find a Heuer Autavia 2446. To me, within the pantheon of rotating bezel 60's sports chronographs, the Autavia has always acted the part of Zeus.? Specifically, the 2446 2nd Execution screw-down case models reign supreme. There's just something about these watches and I'll do my best to explain the fascination. Plus, the buying experience was an adventure, which always ups the lust factor! For deal-seekers, I apologize because affordable #TBT takes a decided respite in pit-lane this week as we take a look at the undeniably fantastic vintage Heuer Autavia 2446 Jochen Rindt.The Heuer Autavia 2446...
Minase 7 Windows Limited to 40 pieces only worldwide.
I had never heard about Minase watches, and that’s perfectly explainable as they were only available in Japan till now. Minase is a company that started as a spin-off in 2005 of a cutting tool manufacturer by the name of?Kyowa Co. (1963). With an annual production of 500 pieces only, I am pretty sure that not many of you heard about Minase watches. Now, Minase introduces a limited watch of 40 pieces that will be available outside Japan. The Minase 7 Windows, referring to the number of sapphire crystals used in the case.Minase 7 WindowsAccording to Minase, all 500 watches have been hand-made in the workshops in Japan. Located in the Akita prefecture, which surroundings are similar to th...
The New Baumatic by Baume & Mercier: Performance Based on Customer Insights
In January 2018, Baume & Mercier unveiled a surprising new caliber in a new timepiece at a very attractive price-point: the Baumatic BM12-1975A caliber will be exclusively available in the new Clifton Baumatic watch from September 2018 on, with prices starting at $2,750.What makes this release so remarkable is the fact that Baume & Mercier addresses several real-life problems of mechanical watches, namely– Sensitivity to magnetic fields (the watch is resistant to magnetic field of 1500 gauss)– Increased autonomy (120 hours or 5 days)– Chronometer precision (-4s/+6s per day over the entire 120 hour power reserve)– Durability (less frequent service intervals)A N...
Top 5 Chronographs Of 2019 5 Interesting Models In All Price Categories
Fall approaches and everyone returns from their much-deserved summer holidays, the watch industry is slowly starting to speed up as well - time to reflect and share my top 5 chronographs of 2019, so far.September will bring us a bunch of events that will go on until early December and the holiday season. Of course, not only events will occur but possibly a bunch of new releases too. One of the forerunners was the drop of Hamilton's new Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical an excellent timepiece for under $1.000,-. However, before the news starts to hit us, let's look back at some of the more exciting releases of this year. Well, interesting to me. I tried to gather watches from different brands an...
Speedy Tuesday: Milo Ventimiglia, Star Of "This Is Us"
For today’s Speedy Tuesday article, we have a contribution from Nick Gould. Nick is a watch spotter and contributes to several watch magazines and blogs regularly.We love spotting watches on people, including those who are famous, as long as it’s genuine. In this case, Nick spotted a watch on the wrist of an actor that has discussed his share of watches on Mr Porter’s online journal. His most precious watch is a Seiko he received from his father. One he bought in Saigon in 1968, on his first of two tours in Vietnam. That’s a story (and watch) difficult to beat, by any brand ambassador, you could say. Milo Ventimiglia isn’t an official watch brand ambassador, and...
Hot Take: Geneva Watch Days H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Wins Again
Sometimes, a brand lives and dies on the character of its people. H. Moser & Cie is headed-up by the charismatic (and charmingly self-deprecating) Edouard Meylan (or sexy Ed as I call him by virtue of his incredible tan). Regrettably, I didn't get the chance to meet him (again), but it's probably just as well as I likely would have said something to that end and embarrassed my team and undone 16 years of RJ's hard labor in a moment. Luckily, the new Streamliner gave us something more constructive to discuss…Showing us the H. Moser novelties instead was Claire, who not only communicated the techniques and thinking behind the creations but so with a genuine passion for the products a...
Hands-On Bvlgari Ge?rald Genta Arena Bi-Retrograde Sport Review
The designer famous for his octagonal and stainless steel luxury sports watches also had other tricks up his sleeve. Bvlgari introduces a new version of another Gerald Genta classic: the Arena Bi-Retrograde Sport.After the recent Octo Finissimo introductions (click here), I wondered what Bvlgari would show to us during the Geneva Watch Days. A few days in advance, I saw the brand’s Bvlgari Bvlgari watches in aluminum. So I reckoned that besides those, a new Octo Finissimo would be the news. And that’s the case as well, of course, but Bvlgari also surprised us with this Gerald Genta Arena Bi-Retrograde Sport 103448.Many years ago - I believe sometime in the early 2000s - when Gera...
French Brand Airain Returns With Legendary Type 20' Military Reissue
Originally founded in 1934, Airain was part of the Lebois and Dodane brands. Montre Airain, was it was called, became one of the official suppliers for the French army.Today, we know the Type 20 watches perhaps best for being part of the Breguet collection (Type XX). But after the second world war, there were seven brands that were creating these Type 20 chronographs for the French Air Force and Naval Air Force. Besides Breguet and the aforementioned Dodane, Montre Airain was also one of them.Type 20 ChronographToday, owner and “reviver” of the Lebois & Co brand, Tom van Wijlick, let us know that he will also revive the French-based Airain brand. And, more importantly, stick ...